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Applying the threshold regression technique in the augmented gravity framework, for the first time, this study examines a nonlinear relationship between overall exchange-rate-adjusted relative prices and the medical tourist inflow, controlling for factors such as the monetary value of distance, GDP of India, and the GDP of the tourist origin countries. This study’s findings indicate the presence of non-linearities in the impact of exchange-rate-adjusted relative prices on medical tourist inflows. Exchange-rate-adjusted relative prices are, however, significant only in their middle range. The findings also indicate that the monetary value of distance has a negative impact on the medical tourist flows in all regimes. The study’s findings suggest that policymakers and medical practitioners in India should target potential medical tourists in nearby countries with bigger market sizes and prices that are not very low but still within the affordable range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spiritual tourism has emerged as a unique and growing area of interest for tourism research. This paper presents a systematic literature review of academic literature related to spiritual tourism to identify key trends, influential authors, and major research themes. We identified 2076 papers published after 2019 using a systematic manual search method and selected 22 articles for an in-depth review that matched the predefined criteria for inclusion. The extracted data were based on spiritual tourism, medicine, healing, destination, experience, well-being, and healing. The results of a systematic literature review confirmed that research on spiritual tourism in relation to destination selection, experience, healing, and well-being is still in its infancy. Most articles focus on medical recovery from chronic illness, anxiety, and loneliness rather than health improvement and healing. By applying systematic literature review methods, this study elucidates the renewed focus and development of holistic health, encompassing facets of medicine and healing, within the context of post-pandemic recovery. This could potentially pave the way for individuals, particularly tourists, who visit specific destinations for emotional, physical, and spiritual rejuvenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined social determinants associated with Korean American immigrant women's mammography use in Korea after immigration to the United States. Data from a cross-sectional survey were obtained from 187 women in Los Angeles County, California. More than one-quarter (28.3%) of the respondents reported returning to Korea for a mammogram after immigrating to the United States. Multivariable logistic regression revealed that compared to those who had their first mammogram in Korea, Korean American immigrant women who had their first mammogram in the United States were less likely to return to Korea for subsequent screenings (AOR = 0.02, 95% CI: <0.001, 0.05); also, those who had employer-based health insurance in the United States were less likely to get a mammogram in Korea after immigration (AOR = 0.01, 95% CI: <0.01, 0.18). Findings suggest that women familiar with the Korean healthcare system and who are uninsured or have inconsistent healthcare coverage in the United States may seek care in Korea. To promote adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines among Korean American immigrant women residing in the United States, greater access to free or low-cost screening services and breast cancer screening education is warranted to reduce the risk of later stage breast cancer detection resulting from medical tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a huge impact on the global tourism industry. The tourism industry had been growing rapidly in Africa before the pandemic. So, the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the tourism industry in Africa has attracted a lot of attention from academics, but the existing studies have seldom explored it from a comprehensive and holistic perspective. Based on the collation of relevant information, the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the tourism industry in Africa is comprehensively analyzed based on the path of the impact of such public health events on the tourism industry. Utilizing ArcGIS visualization, we analyze regional spatial and temporal variations in international tourism numbers and receipts for Northern, Eastern, and Southern Africa, as well as for Egypt, Mauritius, Ghana, and South Africa, providing a nuanced understanding of this impact process. The findings indicate that international tourism arrivals and receipts in Africa declined significantly in 2020. However, regional analysis shows that the COVID-19 epidemic did not alter the existing spatial patterns of international tourism numbers and receipts. Country case studies at the micro level reveal that African countries have implemented various economic measures to revive tourism amid the epidemic's impact. In the post-epidemic era, African nations should seize opportunities to actively expand the tourism market, promote development, monitor new changes in the tourism sector, and adapt to emerging trends in recovery and growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores Cuba's efforts to develop the island as a vibrant medical tourism centre. The key topics which it addresses are a general overview of the medical tourism industry, background information on medical tourism in Cuba, and Cuban medical tourism's challenges and prospects. The key challenges analysed are the US sanctions (seen as the primary obstacle to future development), Havana's lack of extensive marketing experience (especially with respect to efforts in countries with highly competitive domestic economies), and possible discontent in Cuban society rooted in perceptions that tourists are receiving privileged treatment. The main advantages that Cuba enjoys in its developmental efforts are seen as the low-cost of its medical services (e.g. up to 90 per cent savings over identical private pay treatments in the US), the high priority that the island's government is currently giving to medical tourism, and the repeal of the Roe v Wade decision by the US Supreme Court. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Medical and health care traverse geographical boundaries in the form of "Medical Tourism" with patients travelling from low and middle-income countries to developed nations and vice versa as well. Affordable medical care is also attracting patients from developed nations to countries like India, Thailand, UAE and others with international accreditation playing a key role. This also yields economic benefits for the recipient countries. Pakistan unfortunately lags behind in acquiring "destination of choice" status for medical tourism which undisputedly can benefit its constrained economy. There being a dearth of literature current narrative review was conducted to highlight the integrity and benefits of medical tourism. For this, literature search was conducted using google, Bing, google scholar, PubMed, web of science to search engines and data bases. One hundred eighty articles, reports & publications were downloaded of which 25 non-English & duplicates, and 75 irrelevant records were excluded. Hence, 34 references of relevant English language articles, publications, reports and online resources were utilized for the review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of the ChatGPT as an expert in the field of medical tourism. Another objective of this study is to assess its evaluations regarding the current state and future prospects of medical tourism in Turkey from an artificial intelligence perspective. Methods: Within the scope of the study's objectives, questions were created for ChatGPT regarding the current state and future prospects of medical tourism in Turkey. First, the draft questions were prepared by the authors of this article using the literature. All questions were evaluated by experts through online interviews. Totally 8 experts have been evaluated the questionnaires. These experts consisted of two tourism professors who had research on medical tourism, three major medical tourism hospital managers, one reconstructive aesthetician clinic owner, and the Turkish Healthcare Travel Council Founding Chairman. The second step of the research questionnaire was applied to the ChatGPT Model 4, which was trained as a medical tourism expert. than test the answers of the AI used the tools "Completeness of content, Lack of false information in the content, Evidence supporting the content, Appropriateness of the content, and Relevance," referred as CLEAR. All answers were evaluated by 41 experts who had articles and research on medical tourism in Turkey. To explain the methodology appropriately, reporting was conducted using the METRICS checklist, which was prepared for artificial intelligence studies. Results: The general answers of ChatGPT 4-o were accurate, informative, and helpful, providing a good overview of medical tourism in Turkey. However, the responses lacked detail, did not provide evidence-based information, and did not always address the nuances and cultural/social impacts of medical tourism. ChatGPT 4-o views the future of Turkey's medical tourism as shiny and will force the lead in general. Conclusions: This study is important for revealing data on the current and future state of medical tourism through artificial intelligence. However, only a few studies have been conducted on artificial intelligence and medical tourism. To the best of our knowledge, there is no existing literature that systematically evaluates the ChatGPT responses of medical tourism experts. In this regard, it is believed that the study will benefit both academics and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional and complementary medicine has always aided the global population in managing various ailments and its role has been acknowledged by World Health Organization. The G20 is the leading global platform for economic collaboration, influencing international policies across sectors such as agriculture, culture, the digital economy, education, employment, finance, and health to guide resilient global strategies. This study highlights conversations within the health working group of the Sherpa track, focusing in particular on traditional medicines and their diverse intersecting aspects. The information was collected from publications by G20 Indian presidency including G20 communications, think tanks (T20), press releases, speeches, and policy briefs. Throughout four health working group meetings, two side events organized by the Ministry of Ayush, and three joint health‐finance task force meetings, key topics discussed included digital health, Universal Health Coverage, Medical Value Travel through wellness tourism, a One‐Health approach, primary healthcare, Yoga, biodiversity, access and benefit sharing of natural resources, and scientific evidence—all of which were connected to traditional medicines. Unlike past G20 presidencies, the Indian G20 presidency recognize the importance of traditional medicines, marking renewed cooperation in this area. The "Gujrat Declaration 2023" must act as a guiding beacon for crafting robust policies concerning traditional medicines on a global scale. The Ministry of Ayush has excelled in advancing traditional medicine systems across all its sectors through well‐organized and intellectually enriching discussions. Upcoming G20 presidencies should build on the discussions about traditional medicine initiated by the Indian presidency and elevate them to new heights. Considering traditional medicine's unique logic, principals, validity, and largescale patient dependency, efforts should be made to form a dedicated sub‐working group within the health working group to delve deeper into the subject. Key Points: Traditional and complementary medicine are acknowledged by the World Health Organization and the forum provided by the G20 is encouraging cooperation and shaping global policies.India's G20 Presidency encouraged the pursuit of digital health, universal health coverage, medical value tourism, one‐health, primary healthcare, Yoga, and biodiversity with a key emphasis on scientific validation of traditional medicines.The "Gujrat Declaration 2023" will be a guiding beacon for crafting resilient policies as the outcomes of India's G20 presidency recognize traditional medicine as a promising new area for significant cooperation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The benefits of blockchain technology in the tourism industry have increased tourist satisfaction by enhancing security, eliminating existing intermediaries, and improving transparency. This study aims to investigate the effects of blockchain technology benefits on entrepreneurial capabilities, marketing capabilities, and marketing performance of hospitals operating in the health tourism industry. This research applied descriptive-analytical survey used convenience sampling to enrol 187 marketing managers working in medical centres and private hospitals active in the Iranian health tourism industry. The data were collected using the field (questionnaire) method, and analysed in SmartPLS using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) method. Blockchain technology benefits had significant positive effects on entrepreneurial capabilities, marketing capabilities, and marketing performance of medical centres and hospitals active in the health tourism industry. The findings make several contributions to the literature on health tourism, particularly in the areas of marketing and entrepreneurship. The research results also highlight the advantages of blockchain technology for managers and entrepreneurs in health tourism hospitals and firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Umm Al-Qura University Journal of Engineering & Architecture (Springer Nature) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The global prevalence of obesity has more than tripled since 1975. Unfortunately, bariatric surgery waiting lists can last many years therefore many patients seek alternative options such as "medical tourism" by venturing abroad for surgery. We describe two cases of porto-mesenteric venous thrombosis in patients who travelled abroad for bariatric surgery. Upon returning both cases required interventional radiological management, and in the first case, the patient underwent a small bowel resection for bowel ischaemia. Porto-mesenteric complications are significant and have profound lifelong consequences. Therefore, it is imperative that patient education is significantly improved, and more stringent regulations by health authorities are put in place to avoid the growing complications of negative health tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reflects on the evolution of the coroner's role, coronial legislation, and the processes of coronial inquests into deaths over the past fifty years, highlighting both progress and the need for further reforms. Topics include the broadening scope of coroners' investigations, improvements in death investigations, and the challenges in addressing sensitive cases such as deaths in custody and medical tourism.

Medical tourism refers to people traveling abroad to benefit from both medical and tourism services. The delivery of medical tourism services requires the simultaneous participation of multiple service providers. This study focuses on the tactical decision level of supply chain planning and aims to evaluate and select the providers of the services that are offered in a medical tourism service package by a medical assistance company and allocate the available capacity of the preselected providers to the medical tourist demand. Thus, it examines the selection of individual service providers and the allocation of capacity based on medical tourist preferences from a business-to-business perspective, namely a supplier selection and order allocation problem. To address this problem, we suggest a two-step process where a fuzzy rule-based inference system is used to evaluate service providers and determine their collaboration scores, and subsequently a fuzzy linear model is employed to select providers and determine the capacity allocation of service requests while maximizing the overall collaboration scores. The applicability of the proposed approach is presented by a quantitative application for dental tourism in Turkey. The suggested approach serves as a guide for scholars as well as for medical tourism practitioners engaged in the process of configuring a medical tourism service network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The burgeoning field of health tourism has garnered significant attention due to its integration of health and leisure, reflecting a growing consumer demand for wellness-oriented travel experiences. Based on the socioemotional selectivity theory, this study examines the relationship between future time perspective, health awareness, involvement, and health tourism intention. It aims to understand how different dimensions of future time perspective influence the intention to engage in health tourism, beyond the traditional chronological age. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among individuals aged 16 years and above with normal cognitive function. Data was collected through online questionnaires distributed on popular Chinese social media platforms, WeChat and QQ. A total of 536 valid questionnaires were returned, with a validity rate of 91.47%. The study employed the structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. Results: The effect of different dimensions of future time perspective on health tourism intention differed. Limited future time perspective (LFTP) positively influenced health tourism intention, while open-ended future time perspective (OFTP) did not have a significant effect on health tourism intention. Involvement and health awareness not only directly influence health tourism intention, but also mediate the relationship between future time perspective (OFTP and LFTP) and health tourism intention respectively. Moreover, there is a significant difference in the effect of LFTP on healthy tourism intention between different age groups. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of considering subjective time perspectives in understanding health tourism intention. Health tourism companies should focus on strategies that enhance health awareness and consumer involvement to capitalize on the positive effects of health tourism intention. Additionally, the study suggests that marketing efforts should be tailored to address the specific needs and goals of individuals with different future time perspectives, thereby optimizing the appeal of health tourism products. Future research should explore these relationships across diverse populations and contexts to further refine the understanding of health tourism decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The government has rapidly promoted the privatisation of healthcare to improve systemic performance, based on the theory that markets improve efficiency. This study aims to measure the efficiency of private hospitals following their expansion and venture into the medical tourism industry through extensive governmental support. Methods: Inpatient utilisation of 101 private, non-specialised hospitals in Malaysia in 2014 and 2018 from the Health Informatics Centre, Ministry of Health Malaysia database was studied using paired samples t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Pabón‐Lasso model. Results: Better quantitative performance was found among larger hospitals, those with hospital accreditation, and those participating in medical tourism activities. There is a scale effect of efficiency between smaller and larger hospitals. However, when compared within respective size categories, Category 1 (small hospitals with less than 100 beds) has the highest percentage of efficient hospitals (39.3 per cent in 2014 and 35.7 per cent in 2018 in Sector 3 of the Pabón Lasso graphs). Conclusion: This study has found that a higher bed occupancy rate (BOR) and longer average length of stay (ALoS) are associated with larger private hospitals, hospital accreditation, and participation in medical tourism activities in Malaysia. There is a need to expedite strategic hospitals partnership for resource optimisation and capacity pooling towards producing better performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Understanding the influential factors in attracting foreign patients is possible by evaluating and identifying hospitals' capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses. This study assessed Ahvaz hospitals' readiness to attract health tourists using International Joint Commission (IJC) standards. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study examined 21 hospitals in Ahvaz using IJC standard questionnaires with 76 questions across six fields. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Mann–Whitney test in SPSS version 22. Results: The overall compliance rate with organization-oriented standards was 79.53%. Staff training and qualification standards scored highest at 81.79%, while information management standards scored lowest at 76.26%. Non-academic hospitals averaged higher scores than academic hospitals, though this difference was insignificant (p > 0.05). Bed occupancy rates ranged from 40.96% to 85.33%, with average lengths of stay between 1.33 and 64.31 days. Conclusion: Ahvaz hospitals demonstrated above-average readiness to attract medical tourists across most dimensions. To enhance their competitiveness, hospitals should prioritize improvements in information management systems, leverage strengths in staff training and qualifications, address disparities between academic and non-academic institutions, and invest in marketing their unique capabilities to potential health tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romanian water-cure resorts were established in the mid-nineteenth century following the discovery of thermal waters. The Romanian state and prominent politicians sought to create modern spa resorts (like those established a century before in France and Germany) by allocating funds and implementing public policies and laws to develop bathing establishments for more people who suffered from different ailments. The local spa resorts could promote health tourism with active support from the state and public-private partnerships. Therefore, the two water-cure resorts analysed in this article, Băile Herculane and Băile Govora, with different histories and evolutions, designed modern medical treatments and leisure activities in the interwar period, encouraging wealthy people and people of modest income to spend a holiday and ‘take the cure’ (drinking and bathing) at these resorts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to reveal the factors that determine the impact of medical tourism on sustainable development goals (SDGs). This study was conducted in descriptive cross-sectional type with 1057 medical tourism stakeholders from five continents between July 2023 and February 2024. Data were collected with an online survey. To determine the determinants, t test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation and Multi Logistic Regression analysis were performed. Odds ratios between "Yes" and "No Idea", efficiency and sustainability (OR=1.101), policy (OR=0.975), ethics (OR=1.035), infrastructure (OR=1.917), and caring (OR=1.045) were found to be significant. Looking at the odds ratios between "No" and "No Idea", efficiency and sustainability (OR=1.063), policy (OR=1.022), ethics (OR=1.024), infrastructure (OR=1.081), and caring (OR=1.048) were found to be significant. The roles and participation levels of stakeholders in medical tourism have been revealed as determinants of the impact of medical tourism on SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human urbanization began around 13,000 years ago in lowland areas along rivers due to favourable conditions for survival and productivity. In contrast, mountainous regions, with their difficult accessibility and dangers, were initially avoided. However, mountains have always been revered as sacred in various religions and hold profound significance for humanity as places for physical, emotional, and spiritual exercise or relaxation. Since the 1860s, mountain tourism has emerged from human interaction with mountains, reflecting the evolution of human behaviour. Mountain tourism is studied across various scientific fields, intersects with other niches, such as sports, hiking, religion, adventure, and health tourism, and involves tourists, locals, entrepreneurs, and volunteers. The literature research reveals conflicting approaches in proposed methods, such as prioritizing funding for modern infrastructure versus fostering empathy and human connections. Additionally, the terminology of mountain tourism is ambiguous and includes expressions such as active, smart, responsible, ecological, and meaningful tourism. This study aims to identify the core principles of mountain tourism to clarify these conflicts and promote a holistic approach to challenges like sustainable development and seasonality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study examined the potential of insect-based diets or products for developing rural leisure tourism. The results indicate that insect-based diets or products can help revitalize the economy but are insufficient on their own to drive economic revitalization and stimulate consumption. Instead, improving public infrastructure and tourist facilities, expanding consumer options, and increasing the quality of tourism services and medical care are key for enhancing the use of insect-based diets or goods to stimulate leisure activities, tourism, and consumer engagement. This study analyzed the effects of insect-based diets on rural leisure activities, tourism, and consumption. A questionnaire survey was conducted, with 900 valid samples being obtained. The collected data were then analyzed through descriptive statistical analysis, a t-test, and a Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient test by using the SPSS 26.0 statistical software. Subsequently, semistructured interviews were conducted to collect expert and public opinions on the analysis results. Finally, literature findings and the collected questionnaire and interview data were reviewed through multivariate validation analysis. According to the results, the public agrees that entomophagy culture and insect cuisine can enhance leisure and tourism appeal. Entomophagy culture can also stimulate rural economic, social, and environmental development as well as rural consumption. However, modern public infrastructure and medical facilities are still required to increase tourism accessibility. Local governments must improve public sanitation, moral standards, and the overall quality of tourism and living environments. They must also attract corporate investment and cultivate entrepreneurship among residents to develop new insect-based tourism and leisure activities, food, and products. These measures can enhance the influence of insects on the sustainable development of leisure activities, tourism, and economies in rural regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Oropouche virus (OROV) is emerging as a major public health threat worldwide, yet for the Americas, it raises complex challenges that intersect with other existing arboviral threats such as Zika (ZIKV), dengue (DENV) and Chikungunya (CHIKV) viruses. Originating from Trinidad and Tobago in 1955, it has spread across the Amazonian Basin and more recently into the Caribbean (Cuba and Haiti) and Europe, highlighting the importance of air travel in its dissemination. OROV and the less studied Melao virus (MELV), pose significant laboratory diagnostic challenges particularly in regions co-endemic with other arboviral diseases, such as dengue and Zika fever. The effects of climate change, particularly in the Caribbean, may exacerbate the transmission of these viruses by exposing human exposure risk to vectors. Public health systems in the Americas are under strain due to complex clinical management of these infections necessitating enhanced surveillance, clinical vigilance, diagnostics and vector control. Vulnerable populations, including pregnant women, elderly, and young children, are at a heightened risk, which raises concerns about the impact on medical tourism in the region. To mitigate the spread and impact of OROV and MELV, recommendations include increased clinical surveillance, improved laboratory diagnostics, public health communication, and strengthened vector controls. Robust research and capacity building (including training and education) efforts are essential to address knowledge gaps and effectively manage future OROV and MELV outbreaks in the Americas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, stories of individuals travelling to Switzerland for an assisted death have been the subject of a notable number of news reports, particularly in the UK, giving the impression that this is largely a British practice. Coverage of individuals undertaking this journey, colloquially known as 'suicide tourists', frequently features in newspaper media in other European countries however, presented as a rousing reminder of the incongruity between the modern desire for greater choice over one's death, and the law on assisted suicide making this practice a crime in all but a few European nations. In this mixed-methods study I explore the framing of suicide tourism in the newspaper media of four Western European countries between 2002 and 2021. A quantitative analysis of trends in reporting was carried out initially, complemented by a qualitative thematic analysis of news stories using a critical discourse framework. Four themes indicative of a wider 'European' discourse employing common frames, language, and meaning were identified: 1/suicide tourism as an individual choice grounded on a desire for autonomy and self-determination 2/Dignitas as an 'emergency exit' 3/the law on assisted suicide as outdated and coercive, and 4/dying in Switzerland as a 'good death'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we aim to examine and emphasize the need for management solutions to transform the standard tourism product of destination Bulgaria into a health-oriented one. The result of the set goal is the survey conducted among thirty Bulgarian tour operators or agencies of international ones operating on the Bulgarian Southern Black Sea coast, selected at random, with the potential to diversify their product. The presented analysis makes it possible to formulate recommendations and strategic guidelines for the reorientation of mass tourism towards health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Selçuk University Social Sciences Vocational School is the property of Journal of Selcuk University Social Sciences Vocational School and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: Regardless of the diverse research on big data analytics (BDA) across different supply chains, little attention has been paid to exploit this information across service supply chains. The healthcare supply chains, where supply chain operations consume the second highest expenditures, have not completely attained the potential gains from data analytics. So, this paper explores the challenges of BDA at various levels of healthcare supply chains. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV), this research explores the various challenges of big data at organizational and operational level of different nodes in healthcare supply chains. To demonstrate the links among supply chain nodes, the authors have used a supplier-input-process-output-customer (SIPOC) chart to list healthcare suppliers, inputs (such as employees) supplied and used by the main healthcare processes, outputs (products and services) of these processes, and customers (patients and community). Findings: Using thematic analysis, the authors were able to identify numerous challenges and commonalities among these challenges for the case of healthcare supply chains across United Arab Emirates (UAE). An applicable exploration on organizational (Socio-technical) and operational challenges to BDA can enable healthcare managers to acclimate efficient and effective strategies. Research limitations/implications: The identified common socio-technical and operational challenges could be verified, and their impacts on the sustainable performance of various supply chains should be explored using formal research methods. Practical implications: This research advances the body of literature on BDA in healthcare supply chains in that (1) it presents a structured approach for exploring the challenges from various stakeholders of healthcare chain; (2) it presents the most common challenges of big data across the chain and finally (3) it uses the context of UAE where government is focusing on medical tourism in the coming years. Originality/value: Originality of this work stems from the fact that most of the previous academic research in this area has focused on technology perspectives, a clear understanding of the managerial and strategic implications and challenges of big data is still missing in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

India has been formulating policies for more than three decades to grow medical tourism as a significant globalised service through a well-trained set of clinicians and hospitals. After its economy became globally integrated, the country has attracted capital investment to the health sector through automatic approval of 100% foreign direct investment in hospitals. India is implementing an online portal-based system with the aim of removing information asymmetry and lack of predictability and transparency for visitors. The expansion of the hospital and wellness service sectors serving foreign tourists, who come for specific medical treatments as well as rejuvenation holidays, is marked by several challenges. The patients and visitors often encounter non-standard facilitation arrangements for accommodation, fixing of medical appointments, legal compliance, cost of treatments, post-procedure follow-up and recourse to remedies for defaults and deficiencies. We evaluate policy interventions made to help the medical tourists, the regulatory deficiencies and negative perceptions of the sector and propose prospective remedies. We conclude that the opportunity to attract foreign medical tourists is significant, but policy shortcomings need to be addressed to realise the potential without diverting resources away from public health care. Higher revenues from medical tourism can help expand healthcare access for Indian citizens.

Abstract Background The government has rapidly promoted the privatisation of healthcare to improve systemic performance, based on the theory that markets improve efficiency. This study aims to measure the efficiency of private hospitals following their expansion and venture into the medical tourism industry through extensive governmental support. Methods Inpatient utilisation of 101 private, non-specialised hospitals in Malaysia in 2014 and 2018 from the Health Informatics Centre, Ministry of Health Malaysia database was studied using paired samples t-test, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Pabón‐Lasso model. Results Better quantitative performance was found among larger hospitals, those with hospital accreditation, and those participating in medical tourism activities. There is a scale effect of efficiency between smaller and larger hospitals. However, when compared within respective size categories, Category 1 (small hospitals with less than 100 beds) has the highest percentage of efficient hospitals (39.3 per cent in 2014 and 35.7 per cent in 2018 in Sector 3 of the Pabón Lasso graphs). Conclusion This study has found that a higher bed occupancy rate (BOR) and longer average length of stay (ALoS) are associated with larger private hospitals, hospital accreditation, and participation in medical tourism activities in Malaysia. There is a need to expedite strategic hospitals partnership for resource optimisation and capacity pooling towards producing better performance.

Medical tourism, which is included in health tourism, is a type of tourism that is rapidly increasing in its development and prevalence globally due to the diversification of personal care services and the increase in different and appropriate treatment options. The aim of the research is to evaluate the medical tourism potential and sustainability of Kayseri based on the views of relevant stakeholders. The research was conducted based on the interview technique in qualitative research method. In this context, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 stakeholders in the field. The interviews were coded and analyzed using Nvivo 10 qualitative data analysis software. As a result of the research, appropriate treatment opportunities, sufficient health centers and specialist physicians increase the medical potential of the area. In addition, it was concluded that the realization of technology-based treatments, patient satisfaction, combining tourism activities with medical treatment and preparing tour packages are effective on the sustainability of medical tourism. In addition, it is revealed that the development of medical tourism is related to economic, social and cultural development and its sustainability should be ensured as it affects the development of many sectors.

Abstract Background The Jordanian healthcare system has evolved over the past decades expanding its services, technological, and educational resources. A comprehensive view of this system is lacking. The objective of this report is to describe the structure of the Jordanian healthcare system, the challenges facing it, and the current and recommended health policies. Materials and methods This study reviewed the current status of the Jordanian healthcare system. The following parameters were analyzed: health indicators, infrastructure, human resources, insurance system, pharmaceutical expense, health education system, and medical tourism. Data were collected from various relevant official institutions and related published literature. Results Jordan has a young population with a median age of 23.8 years. Life expectancy is 78.8 years for females and 77.0 years for males. The Jordanian healthcare system is divided into three major categories: (1) Governmental Insurance (i.e., the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Royal Medical Services (RMS) and semi-governmental insurance); (2) Private Insurance; and (3) Refugee Insurance, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (NHUR). The Governmental Insurance covers 64.30% of the total population. Health expenditure is 6.37% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Pharmaceutical expenses make up 26.6% of the total national healthcare budget. Human resource assessment shows a high ratio of medical staff per 10.000 inhabitants, especially concerning physicians (31.7), dentists (7.9), and pharmacists (15.1). However, the ratio of nursing staff per 10.000 inhabitants is considered low (37.5). The Hospital bed/1000 population ratio is also relatively low (1.4). Healthcare accreditation is implemented through the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation which was achieved by 7 hospitals and by the National Health Care Accreditation Certificate (HCAC) achieved by 17 hospitals and 42 primary healthcare centers. Postgraduate medical education covers almost all medical and surgical fields. Medical tourism is currently well-established. Conclusions Assessment of the Jordanian healthcare system shows high ratios of physicians, dentists, and pharmacists but a low ratio of nursing staff per 10.000 inhabitants. The hospital bed/1000 population ratio is also relatively low. Pharmaceutical expenses are significantly high and medical tourism is well-developed.

The aim of this study is to determine the factors that prevent the development of medical tourism in Antalya. To explore the current medical tourism trend, a qualitative procedure was adopted. Besides analyzing the current situation of medical tourism in Antalya through a systematic searching on the available information and publications, in-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from relevant authorities and representatives of medical tourism associations in this country. The data were derived from interviews with 42 key informants. Data analysis of the study was conducted through employing the software NVivo-11. Data gathered at the end of the study were grouped into 8 main themes and 40 sub-themes. The results show that insurances, language and communication, management, policies and rules, prices and treatments, structural, transfer and terminology problems are the main barriers to the development of medical tourism. Several strategies are required in order to address and combat these barriers, such as governmental support, ethical practices, pricing and enhance personnel linguistic competence on an international scale. In this context, the study is expected to contribute to national and regional planning on medical tourism.

Abstract Background Since 2006, Taiwan has actively pursued the development of its medical tourism industry. In 2013, the government sought to bolster this sector by integrating medical tourism into the Free Economic Pilot Zones. Despite narrowly missing the mark, the initiative failed to materialize into law. This qualitative study endeavors to discern the pertinent factors influencing the agenda-setting process for incorporating medical tourism into the Free Economic Pilot Zones in Taiwan. Methods A comprehensive examination of policies concerning the legitimation of medical tourism within the Free Economic Pilot Zones was undertaken through semi-structured interviews and a thorough review of policy documents. Key informants were strategically selected using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Thematic analysis was applied to scrutinize the amassed data and organize it within the framework of Kingdon's multiple streams. Results In the problem stream, increasing financial strains and cost containment pressures under the National Health Insurance program have long driven health care providers to seek further opportunities in medical tourism. The existing barriers to expanding medical tourism in Taiwan included diplomatic tensions (specifically cross-strait relations), public concerns about commercialization of medical care and reduced their access to care, and legal and language barriers. Within the policy stream, factors such as franchise fees to support national health insurance, limited number of demonstration medical tourism sites and services allowed, the allowance of foreign medical personnel, regulations governing domestic physicians, the importance of demonstration, regulation, and accreditation, as well as restrictions on investment from China, were emphasized. The politics stream highlights factors such as governmental support, opposition from opposing parties, public concerns and critics from academia and non-governmental organizations, and skepticism from medical faculties. Conclusion Acknowledging the recognized challenges in enacting the medical tourism provision of the Free Economic Pilot Zones Special Act and emphasizing the political will of leadership, a viable policy solution remained elusive. Although a window of opportunity existed for the passage of the bill, it waned as public concerns sidelined the issue from the national agenda. The Taiwan case underscores the necessity for meticulous consideration of issues, proposed solutions, and political dynamics to achieve successful policy enactment.

The aim of this study is to conduct a SWOT analysis of the Türkiye healthcare system from the viewpoint of physicians. The sample for this study consisted of 22 physicians who voluntarily participated. A qualitative research approach was employed, utilizing semi-structured interview forms for data collection. Data were gathered both face-to-face and online. The obtained data were coded, and similar codes were categorized and themed. This study incorporated both SWOT analysis and content analysis methods. When examining the findings, physicians highlighted easy access and availability as the strong aspects of the Türkiye healthcare system. However, the system's weaknesses were predominantly identified as issues concerning healthcare professionals. On the other hand, medical tourism was pointed out as the most significant opportunity awaiting the health system, whereas the escalating violence towards healthcare workers was perceived as the biggest threat. The Türkiye Healthcare System stands out with strengths such as ease of access and advanced technological infrastructure, as well as opportunities like medical tourism. However, it also harbors pressing challenges, including violence against healthcare workers and medication shortages. It is anticipated that many of these issues will be addressed when the balance between demand and supply is achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the halal food services provided by South Korean health care institutions to patients from the United Arab Emirates and their companions. This study considered only patients who traveled for medical tourism. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and the primary topics discussed by participants were their experiences and the factors that affected their overall satisfaction. In February 2017, a chain referral sampling technique was used to recruit 15 patients/companions from the United Arab Emirates. To ensure consistency, an interview guide was used by the interviewer during the interview sessions. The participants were asked specific questions regarding their experiences with the food services, such as "How satisfied were you with the food services in the Korean health care institutions?" and "How was your experience with the food services in the Korean health care institutions?". Recordings were transcribed into and analyzed in Arabic. All participants were males between the international age of legal adulthood and 49 years old. Notable gaps emerged following the analysis among the various levels of halal meal service provided to the participants by different Korean health care institutions. The following five levels were revealed by the analysis: the management of the Korean health care institutions did not understand the patients' needs; Korean health care institutions addressed the situation and adopted a new halal food policy; the food offered by Korean health care institutions was not fully perceived as halal; the food offered by Korean health care institutions was not perceived as good-quality halal food; and the food was delicious, preferred, and trusted by the patients. In-depth consideration of the diversity of religious needs in different cultures as well as the availability of the means of meeting those needs in medical tourism destinations might help enrich our understanding of global medical tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to conduct a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of foreign patients to analyze the impact of patients' illness perceptions on their need for professional medical interpreters. From February 2022 to May 2023, an online questionnaire was distributed to 4,962 individuals aged 18 years or older who were non-native speakers of Japanese. These individuals were enrolled in organizations such as international exchange associations and Japanese language support classes and had utilized medical institutions in Japan due to their own illness or injury or that of their children. Among the 312 valid responses, international patients with a high score for illness perception were more likely to want to utilize professional medical interpreters than those with a low score for illness perception (odds ratio, 1.968; 95% confidence interval, 1.044–3.709; P = 0.036). Our findings suggest that hospitals should be better prepared to meet the potential language needs of international patients with a higher illness perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed various aspects of the wellness tourism experience in Thailand. A survey was conducted with a sample of 420 Chinese tourists. The findings revealed significant and insignificant effects of the wellness tourism experience on the development of destination brand love. Additionally, it confirmed that barriers and destination familiarity play a vital role in shaping tourists' responses and strengthening their affinity towards the destination brand. The results highlight tourists' focus on comprehensive experiences rather than external dynamics like weather. This study suggests collaboration among stakeholders to enrich the overall travel experience and prioritize the emotional wellbeing of tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In Hungary, spas have rich traditions and are one of the country's major tourist attractions. The research aims to analyze the turnover of one of the key supply elements of health tourism in Hungary, the baths, which, in addition to the impact of COVID, will also present factors that positively influence turnover data. In the study, in addition to presenting the importance of Hungarian spas, we also deal with the spa's guest turnover and income. Over time, we compare how turnover in the sector has evolved over the past decade. We conducted a regression analysis on the trends in revenue and the number of guests at Hungarian spas. The turnover data of spas are correlated with capacity data and economic indicators, which are quantified. This allows us to identify which factors are more or less important in the development of turnover and revenue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and execution of a quality measurement and improvement approach based on a particular combination of two TQM tools SERVQUAL and QFD was investigated in the thesis. The approach focused on whether it was appropriate to apply these quality improvement strategies to the Saudi German hospital medical tourism industry. It was progressively tested and enhanced in three medical tourists' attractions located in Cairo - Egypt. The introduction chapter delineates the research's significance, while the literature review develops relevant theoretical viewpoints. The following research question was the focus of the study: How can medical operators enhance their service quality by finding a tool for measuring it? Case study from each of the health medical tourism industry's cultural, heritage, and environmental segments were chosen to serve as the research's setting and data source. These are all wellestablished companies with respectable market and industry profiles. The research instrument has been refined and the execution of the research technique in the extended major case study has been backed by the investigations conducted through two complementary case studies. To assess the accuracy of the data from the various surveys and to account for variations in the outcomes, statistical analyses were used. According to research findings, the combination of the two tools would give small business owners a way to connect customer service satisfaction measurement to the fundamental operational elements of their enterprise with additional refinement and adjustment through ongoing usage. Any major variations in customer expectations about standards of quality service can be partially explained by looking at the visitor profiles of the medical tourists' attractions that were gathered from the surveys. The results indicate that small medical tourists' attractions should routinely implement the combined SERVQUAL and QFD quality management technique as a tool for quality improvement to meet customer satisfaction and help achieve external quality service accreditation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

India has been formulating policies for more than three decades to grow medical tourism as a significant globalised service through a well-trained set of clinicians and hospitals. After its economy became globally integrated, the country has attracted capital investment to the health sector through automatic approval of 100% foreign direct investment in hospitals. India is implementing an online portal-based system with the aim of removing information asymmetry and lack of predictability and transparency for visitors. The expansion of the hospital and wellness service sectors serving foreign tourists, who come for specific medical treatments as well as rejuvenation holidays, is marked by several challenges. The patients and visitors often encounter non-standard facilitation arrangements for accommodation, fixing of medical appointments, legal compliance, cost of treatments, post-procedure follow-up and recourse to remedies for defaults and deficiencies. We evaluate policy interventions made to help the medical tourists, the regulatory deficiencies and negative perceptions of the sector and propose prospective remedies. We conclude that the opportunity to attract foreign medical tourists is significant, but policy shortcomings need to be addressed to realise the potential without diverting resources away from public health care. Higher revenues from medical tourism can help expand healthcare access for Indian citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of Geographical Sciences / Coğrafi Bilimler Dergisi is the property of Cografi Bilimler Dergisi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: The Jordanian healthcare system has evolved over the past decades expanding its services, technological, and educational resources. A comprehensive view of this system is lacking. The objective of this report is to describe the structure of the Jordanian healthcare system, the challenges facing it, and the current and recommended health policies. Materials and methods: This study reviewed the current status of the Jordanian healthcare system. The following parameters were analyzed: health indicators, infrastructure, human resources, insurance system, pharmaceutical expense, health education system, and medical tourism. Data were collected from various relevant official institutions and related published literature. Results: Jordan has a young population with a median age of 23.8 years. Life expectancy is 78.8 years for females and 77.0 years for males. The Jordanian healthcare system is divided into three major categories: (1) Governmental Insurance (i.e., the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Royal Medical Services (RMS) and semi-governmental insurance); (2) Private Insurance; and (3) Refugee Insurance, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (NHUR). The Governmental Insurance covers 64.30% of the total population. Health expenditure is 6.37% of the gross domestic product (GDP). Pharmaceutical expenses make up 26.6% of the total national healthcare budget. Human resource assessment shows a high ratio of medical staff per 10.000 inhabitants, especially concerning physicians (31.7), dentists (7.9), and pharmacists (15.1). However, the ratio of nursing staff per 10.000 inhabitants is considered low (37.5). The Hospital bed/1000 population ratio is also relatively low (1.4). Healthcare accreditation is implemented through the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation which was achieved by 7 hospitals and by the National Health Care Accreditation Certificate (HCAC) achieved by 17 hospitals and 42 primary healthcare centers. Postgraduate medical education covers almost all medical and surgical fields. Medical tourism is currently well-established. Conclusions: Assessment of the Jordanian healthcare system shows high ratios of physicians, dentists, and pharmacists but a low ratio of nursing staff per 10.000 inhabitants. The hospital bed/1000 population ratio is also relatively low. Pharmaceutical expenses are significantly high and medical tourism is well-developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jellyfish blooms along coastal areas can pose significant challenges for beach users and local authorities. Understanding the factors influencing jellyfish presence is crucial for effective management and mitigation strategies.In this study, citizen science data from the Andalusian coast (232 beaches, in 40 different localities) and machine learning techniques are used to investigate if the presence and absence of jellyfish along coastal areas can be predicted. A multi‐layer perceptron (MLP) neural network was employed to classify user comments regarding jellyfish presence or absence, achieving an accuracy of approximately 96%.The MLP model demonstrated robustness in handling non‐linear classification problems and noise, although it showed lower precision for predicting jellyfish presence, likely due to an imbalance in the dataset. Environmental data were also incorporated to characterise the influence of sea surface temperature, wind direction and wind speed on jellyfish distribution. The results align with previous studies, suggesting these environmental factors significantly impact jellyfish presence.Synthesis and applications. This research provides actionable recommendations for beach management. The implementation of continuous monitoring of sea surface temperature and wind conditions will enable more accurate predictions of jellyfish distribution. Adaptive management strategies that respond dynamically to environmental data will help mitigate the impact of jellyfish blooms on coastal tourism and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mascots, which have been used in certain areas since ancient times, are now being developed to serve the marketing and promotional purposes of brands today. In particular, they contribute to branding strategies by playing an important role in shaping the identity and image of destinations. In Turkey, it is seen that the use of mascots by destinations is quite low. The main purpose of the study is to point out how mascots should be designed in order to play an effective role in destination branding. In the research, details that may be visually important, especially when developing a mascot for a destination, are examined through the example of Kuşadası. In this context, the potential role of the mascot is also discussed by measuring how Kuşadası uses the pigeon introduced by Kuşadası Chamber of Commerce in 2016 as a mascot in destination branding. For this purpose, in the study, interviews were held with the officials of the Kuşadası Chamber of Commerce, who developed the mascot, and a semiotic analysis of the pigeon mascot was also carried out. In the analysis, the semiotic model developed by Griggs et al. (2012) for the mascots used in the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games was used. The pigeon mascot has been tried to be explained by evaluating the criteria such as the area where the pigeon mascot is depicted, the emotion and message it gives, its appearance, color and graphic design. As a result of the analysis, it is thought that depicting the pigeon as a tourist, using it in graphics in a way that does not prevent the natural beauties of Kuşadası, animating and talking in a peaceful and pleasant way will allow the mascot to make positive contributions in the branding process. However, it may be possible to use the mascot more effectively in the branding of the destination by using it in situations that will reflect Kuşadası's touristic potential more broadly, such as health tourism and cultural tourism other than sea tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil health refers to the ability of soil to maintain the sustainable development of plants, animals and human beings. At present, the research on soil health mainly focuses on the green development of agriculture, but rarely involves the soil health of tourist destinations. In order to understand the impact of tourism activities on soil health, the related contents were summarized from three aspects: soil physical and chemical properties, soil biological properties and soil ecological functions. Tourism disturbance increased soil bulk density, firmness and heavy metal content, and decreased litter thickness and soil fertility. Tourism has changed the structure of soil biological community, in which the aggregation degree of soil animal surface layer, the abundance and diversity of soil microorganisms, and the height, coverage and diversity of herbaceous plants have decreased significantly in the severely disturbed areas. Tourism interference affects all links of soil nutrient cycle, and also weakens soil water and soil conservation capacity. Tourism affects the health of soil ecosystem, and its degree of influence is positively correlated with the intensity of tourism interference. In the future research, we should expand the research content of tourism interference and attach importance to the soil health evaluation of tourist destinations. In the process of developing tourism, we should strengthen the scientific management of tourist destinations and pay attention to the restoration of ecological environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wellness tourism is currently developing and starting to be recognized as an important aspect of tourism. Not only in Bali, Bandung is developing itself into a destination for foreign tourists for wellness tourism. Wellness tourism, which focuses on activities and experiences aimed at enhancing one's health and wellbeing, is intricately linked with sustainable tourism principles. This phenomenon is then studied using constructivist paradigms, qualitative methods, case study approaches, and social construction theory. Data collection techniques were participant observation for a year, interviews with 6 key informants and triangulation of 19 sources, literature study, and document study. The purpose of this study is to determine the development of wellness tourism in Bandung, Indonesia. The results showed that Bandung is an alternative to wellness tourism, because it was visited by patients from Malaysia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, the Philippines, Pakistan, Timor Leste and Australia. The uniqueness is: 1) Offering holistic health care; 2) Organizing complementary and alternative medicine under the supervision of doctors; 3) Spiritual healing-based care; 4) Teaching patients self-healing methods; 5) Not using chemical drugs; 6) Leaving the paternalistic model; 7) loyal patients are fostered in a community; and 8) using celebrities in promotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international nature of health tourism, which has an increasing importance, makes its interaction with the real exchange rate a prominent research topic. On this basis, this study aims to examine the relationship between health tourism revenues and real exchange rate for Türkiye, and to determine to what extent the preferences of health tourists traveling to this country are price- or cost-centered. For this purpose, Johansen cointegration and Granger causality analyses and the dataset for the period Q1 2002 – Q4 2019 were used. Findings of cointegration analysis supported that there is a long-term relationship between real exchange rate and health tourism revenues. Accordingly, a 1% change in all, developed, and developing trading partner countries based real exchange rate causes a change of 2.4065%, 2.6108%, and 2.1383% in health tourism revenues in reverse direction, respectively. These findings indicate that health tourism revenues are highly sensitive to the changes in real exchange rates. Furthermore, Granger causality analysis supported a one-way causal relationship from all three real exchange rates to health tourism revenues. Considering the findings, it is possible to state despite the high quality of health services in Türkiye, prices or costs are significantly effective in the decisions of health tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the concept of health tourism in orthopaedic surgery, with a focus on the UK. Health tourism refers to individuals and families traveling to other countries for medical treatment, often to access better care or avoid long wait times. The article discusses the pros and cons of health tourism, including its impact on the economy, waiting lists, quality of care, postoperative complications, doctor training, and sustainability. The author suggests involving all stakeholders in developing a viable strategy and calls for further research on the long-term effects of medical tourism. Additionally, two sources related to junior doctor pay disputes and the UK surgical workforce are provided, including a BBC News article on the 11th strike of the dispute and a report from the Royal College of Surgeons of England on the UK surgical workforce census. These sources can be helpful for library patrons researching these specific topics. [Extracted from the article]